The Pastor - NCCG.ORG Ning Network Archive 2008-10

The Pastor
By Lahry Sibley
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Beginning with verse 11 above we see that God has given some incredible opportunities for church life and growth of it saints. He anoints ordinary man with some incredible gifts and abilities not seen in those who are without Christ.
It is not my place to judge anyone. It is my place as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to recognize that there are some in the church who go unrecognized and slip through our midst. What I’m talking about is that in most churches today, only the “pastor” is recognized as the “one” who is responsible for training up the saints for the work of the Ministry and the edifying the Body of Christ. This is a blight that simply cannot be overlooked; nor can it be deleted from Holy Scripture.
With that said, it is not my purpose in this writing to address this blight. In this paper I intend to focus on the Pastor placed in a Body of believers to shepherd them. There are certain characteristics of pastors that are common to all who lead by serving others. Then there are gifts given to certain men that empower them for the sacred office of being a Pastor in the Body of Christ.
The importance of the Pastor cannot be overstated. But it can and often does become misunderstood. I think the fact that there are few or no Apostles, Prophets, and not many Evangelists recognized in the church today that the Pastor is often expected and even demanded to lead in ways that He is not equipped to accommodate, regardless of education and biblical revelation he may possess, or the anointing bestowed upon Him by the Holy Spirit. One man teams are not teams at all.
Many, who are pastors for the wrong reason, attempt to be “all inclusive” and run their own personal kingdom or dynasty which is so unlike the Kingdom of God. Using the Bible as the only “measure” whereby we may bring to the light true Christian virtue and leadership, we can easily see that while these men can build large numbers, there is no true operations of the Holy Spirit in the midst. We can be certain of this as we look for “who” is the center of attention.
A “Spirit Filled” Church is a Church where Jesus Christ is the centerpiece of all. He said that when the “Holy Spirit comes, He will testify of Me”. Life in the Spirit Filled Church is not all about the Holy Spirit Who empowers it. Life in the Spirit Filled Church is all about the Lord Jesus Christ. It testifies of Him!
So a “spirit led” Pastor will keep pointing his flock to the Good Shepherd, the author and finisher of our faith.
The Pastor will hold the Lord’s Supper in its rightful place of worship and honor in each church service. Jesus said, “for as often as you come together”, not the 5th Sunday of the month evening service.
The God called Pastor will have to first and foremost “model” Christ before His people. Nothing he could ever say will equal what “he does”. What he says has little or no meaning, if he does not live it!
The Pastor in Christ’s Body must be able to hear the voice of God. That voice will ever be Biblical, but not always popular. God’s ways are not our ways, we walk not by understanding. We walk by faith and not by sight. The Pastor inspires others to reach up to life they have not experienced before. He is able to communicate vision and motivate others to follow his shepherding. Knowing the right way is not the same as walking the right way and leading others to do the same.
A good pastor proclaims God's words directly, faithfully, and he does not add, twist, or take away from God's word. He is not responsible to do all the preaching and teaching. He is responsible for all the preaching and teaching done in the church, that it follows the Bible accurately and presents God’s plan of Salvation through grace by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ with simplicity.
(2 Cor 2:17 KJV) For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
(2 Cor 4:2 KJV) But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
(1 Th 2:13 KJV) For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
A good pastor does not discriminate or show false favoritism. For he loves all of his flock equally, without discrimination as to age, sex, financial status, education, or position.
(Acts 10:34 KJV) Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

(James 2:1 KJV) My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
The pastor of God is required by necessity to get to know all the saints in his flock. There are two basic approaches to this. First, he must be a home visitor. If a pastor is to be “partly” responsible for the training up of the saints for the work of the ministry, he must at some point know what part each individually is called by God to be in the Body of Christ. He will help them to discover their calling and the gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit to accomplish all that God has for them individually and collectively. He will train them, bless them, and empower them by the anointing of God placed upon him to do the work of the ministry. He helps them find their place in the body and enjoy their uniqueness as that part. He paints vision for the ministry of the Body as doers of the Word and not just hearers only. He does not himself try to be all things to all the saints. He delegates administrations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit as led by the Holy Spirit.
(John 21:16 KJV) He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
(Ezek 34:11 KJV) For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out.12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
(Prov 27:23 KJV) Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
(John 10:14 KJV) I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
(John 10:11 KJV) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
(Rom 12:2 KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
The Shepherd of the Body of Christ must be a man of prayer and personal time with God, no exceptions.
On a certain day in Jesus’ busy ministry, He was on His way to heal a certain child. While on the journey a woman with an issue of blood reached out to Him and through faith touched His tzitzit (tassels) and received her miraculous healing. Jesus felt the virtue (or anointing) leave Him as she received this healing. He asked, "Who touched me?"

In pastoral ministry, many people are going to pull strength from the man of God. Though Jesus was simply walking along the road on the way to heal a child, someone found a way to press through the crowd and pull it out of Him.

People will call on you nearly any time of day. They'll show up at your house when you least expect it. They will tell you their problems at the grocery store. If you show up early for assembly, there will often be someone there who feels it is their opportunity to "have your attention".

By the time you get up to preach you may find yourself without virtue from time to time. Preaching a message under the anointing will drain you and cause you to feel depleted of spiritual and physical energy and power.
Jesus Himself experienced times when He had to retreat from the crowd and even His close followers to get alone with the Father. This is where He found His virtue (anointing). There is no replacement for personal prayer and time alone with the Source of virtue. Prayer, fasting and constant communion are of absolute necessity if you desire to maintain your virtue. Jesus got His direction for what He was to say and do from the Father. The Father is also the director and source of the Pastor in the Body of Christ. Accept no substitutes.

A Pastor without virtue is like a mechanic without tools. He can tell you what is wrong, but he can't help you very much. Virtue is needed to minister to someone who has been attacked by Satan. Anointing is needed to lift them up and heal them of their physical and spiritual wounds.

Preaching without virtue is just oratory. It might be interesting to listen to, but if it does not heal, restore, or edify, it is of little use. It takes virtue to deliver souls from sin. It takes anointing to break the yoke of bondage in people's lives. Without a saturation of the Spirit on a message, it is little more than a lecture.

Finally, the measure of success. Personally, I would measure my own personal success as a Pastor by how all the saints in the Body exceeded me in ministry. That would be the ultimate. A Body that has all the parts working in their proper place and changing the world around them for Christ, able to share the truth of the Cross to whosoeverwill.
A Pastor is much like a conductor of an orchestra. Satisfaction for the orchestra conductor is to assemble an ensemble of master musicians who know how to play their individual part of the score before them. They get their passion from the conductor that causes their talents to be demonstrated into such a musical cohesion that the masterpiece takes on spirituality and soothes the heart of the listener. Ah, sweet music indeed, alive, and edifying.
The Pastor is not called to be a king, but a servant. If he is not a footwasher, he is nothing at all. However, being a footwasher does not make him a door mat! No one has the right to demand of the Pastor more than he is able to give. Only God can enable His called ones to go beyond the natural into the realm of the Spirit of God.
Of course we may not overlook the direction of the Apostle Paul given to Timothy…..
1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
1Ti 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Finally, I’ll leave you with a quote from the great A.W. Tozer. He said, “No man of God should ever retire when hard work will kill him”. To God be the glory, now and forever amen.

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